FARMINGTON — Two Board of Selectman incumbents, whose terms in office are due to expire, have each filed for a further three years, and they will be joined on the ballot by another four candidates. Joan Funk and Paula Proulx face challenges from Richard Cochran, Matt Scruton, Douglas Staples and David Connolly, when voters go to the polls on Tuesday, March 12.

Joan Funk

Funk, age 70, has lived in Farmington since 1975. She has three sons who all live in town and seven grandchildren. She is retired, after working for 30 years in the Farmington School District, although she still does her Saturday detention stint, as she has for the past 33 years.

She is completing her 15th year as a selectman, having served 12 years on the Parks and Recreation Commission before that. She serves on the Downtown Business Committee (DBC), and has for 12 years. She is a past president of Farmington High School Boosters, was a cheerleading coach for a dozen years, and is in the 500 Boys and Girls Club Hall of Fame as a contributor.

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Paula Proulx

Funk said it has been a hard battle holding the line in this economy, and the board has flat-lined many items or given small increases where mandated.

She said that when taxes increase, some people look at the town, when it is the school that is responsible for the hike. Funk said she is running again in order to manage how things are done, and not increase the tax rate. The board is looking at all departments to see how money can be saved.

She noted that the DBC and the Economic Development Committee had been joined by the regional group WEDCO to put together a marketing package, and they were considering an extension of the Sarah Greenfield Business Park.

Paula Proulx

Proulx, age 52, is a lifelong Farmington resident who graduated from Keene State with a teaching degree. She taught for a couple of years in town, before going to work at Textron for 14 years. After that she opened a store in downtown Farmington which she ran for 15 years.

She served on the Zoning and Master Plan Subcommittee (ZAMPS) for three years. This formed the basis of the town’s master plan. She was elected to the Board of Selectmen in 2004 and has served three three-year terms.

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Richard Cochran

While serving on the board, she notes, that the landfill has been closed and a transfer station created, the upgrade waste water treatment is on line, and the grants for it have come in as predicted. The town now has extra sewer capacity to allow the expansion of the industrial and commercial tax base.

To help economic development, Proulx said the board is looking at setting up a Tax Incentive Financial (TIF) district. “We are a community that cares about attracting business,” she said.

“We want to continue the extension of the Sarah Greenfield Business Park where the gravel is extracted. We have road easement in place that will keep the scenery people happy and the business people happy. You have to find the balance,” she said.

The board is also looking, Proulx said, to maintain quality services, while making departments smarter and more efficient.

Richard Cochran

Cochran, age 58, has lived in Farmington for 23 years. He is married with two grown children. After spending three years in the U.S. Army (where he met his wife, who outranked him), he worked for an office personnel management company, which had government federal agencies as their clients. He holds an associate’s degree in business and a bachelor’s degree in pre-law.

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Matt Scruton

On coming to Farmington he bought the 5 & 10 store on Main Street, which he later closed with the arrival of Walmart on Route 11. Following this he worked in the Navy Yard. He is a member of Rochester Humane Lodge of Masons, a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, and is a member of St. Peter’s Church.

He had an unsuccessful run for selectman in 2010, but has no local political experience. Cochran describes himself as a people person, and said that he needs to find out what he can do, and will listen.

“Running for selectman is the first step in a long process. I am here to help people that are hurting, who don’t have a voice. This is the only way I know to help,” said Cochran.

Turning to the economy, he added, “The private sector is the key to bringing in more jobs. I would like to match up unemployed people with job openings that fit their skills. I favor worker training — that is better than the (federal) government giving tax breaks to business to take jobs overseas.”

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Douglas Staples

Matthew Scruton

Scruton, age 36, was raised on Scruton’s Dairy on Meaderboro Road and still lives in the vicinity. He attended Farmington schools, and then obtained a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business administration from UNH.

While there, he won the Paul J. Holloway Prize, earning first place for a graduate level entrepreneurship competition for a detailed financial and marketing analysis for a business enterprise.

He is married, with “one dog.” Scruton worked as an auditor and a research and information technologist at UNH from 2000 until 2011, when he became a victim of cutbacks. He currently works part-time as a webmaster, and is familiar with multiple computer programs.

Scruton served as a town selectman from 2003 to 2005 — two of these years as vice chair. He has served six years on the budget committee, and is familiar with dealing with school officials, municipal department heads, committees and taxpayers.

He has four main goals, if elected to the board. He will promote economic development on Route 11 and in the downtown area, thus expanding the tax base and creating jobs; he will ensure good public safety services; he will promote cultural and recreational opportunities in town; and he will encourage transparency in government using websites and social media.

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David Connolly

“I have the education and the experience to help deal with the financial challenges the town faces,” he said.

Douglas Staples

Staples, age 25, is a lifelong resident of Farmington. He is a homeowner, single, and has no children. He is a graduate of Farmington High School Class of 2005. He has worked as a carpenter and is currently employed by Index Packaging in Milton. He has no previous political experience, and says one of the reasons he is running for selectman is rising property taxes. Staples says it is hard to bring businesses to town, partly due to restrictive zoning and signage regulations, which are impediments.

“I would like to make it easier for businesses to start up,” he said, adding that Route 11 development would be an ideal way to broaden the tax base and ease the tax burden on homeowners.

“Police and fire are doing their job, but I would be tough on the Highway Department. Plowing is horrendous this year. Do they not have the stuff, or are they just not doing their jobs,” Staples pondered.

If elected to the Board of Selectmen, Staples said he would encourage public participation at meetings, to get fresh ideas.

David Connolly

Connolly, age 51, is married with one grown child. He has lived in Farmington for 12 years. He graduated high school in Connecticut, and has worked in retail most of his life, as he “loves selling stuff.” He is currently employed at Coyote Creek. He is also a home business owner. Fisherman’s Fly 2 does rod and reel repair, and custom builds rods. A former charter member of Bass Fanatics, he is now a sponsor of the club. Connolly has served on the Farmington Conservation Commission for the past five years, and has been the chair for a majority of this time. During his tenure it has gone from a three person commission to one with nine active members, with two high school students in addition.

“We have over 500 acres of conserved land in Farmington, now,” said Connolly, “and half the easements are held by Fish and Game.” He pointed out that the town-owned conservation land on River Road has a management plan, which his commission is enacting, including a timber harvest, and the establishment of user-friendly walking trails. There are also snowmobile trails on that land maintained by the Powdermill club, he said.

Connolly said he is now running for selectman “to get into the heart of the community, and not just the conservation aspect.” Economic development “is high on the list” and he wants Farmington to keep its “village charm” and the “agricultural aspects” while ensuring that industrial development of Route 11 and the Sarah Greenfield parcel doesn’t miss the boat.

The Planning Board, he said, is working on grants to extend water and sewer lines on Route 11 to any interested businesses. “But it’s tough, and that’s where the selectmen sit down and brainstorm,” he said.

If elected, Connolly will maintain open communication with the people and town departments.

“I will listen to all sides and make the right decision for the town as a whole,” he said, “while being fiscally responsible. I am ready to take on the challenge.”